Endosonographic and manometric assessment of the anal sphincters in patients operated on for Crohn's disease of the colon

Abstract

Background. The aim of this study was to compare endosonography and manometry of the anal sphincters in patients operated on for Crohn's Disease (CD) of the colon.

Patients and methods. Ten patients aged between 21-67 years operated on for CD between 1988 and 1999 were examined with anal endosonography (AES) and anorectal manometry.

Results. AES visualized abnormal image of the internal anal sphincter (lAS) in 8 patients (80%). Defects of the external anal sphincter (EAS) and puborectalis muscle (PR) were shown in 7 patients (70%). Correlation between endosonographic and manometric assessment of the !AS was found in 9 patients (90%). Correlation for the EAS and PR was found in 7 cases (70%).

Conclusions. AES and manometry allow assessing the morphology as well as functioning of the anal sphincters and in most of the patients operated on for CD of the colon show high correlation in the above assessment. Both methods may be very helpful in choosing an optimal surgical procedure in patients with CD.